Grid Rail Temporary Storage System for Rapid Container Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing temporary storage and transport systems face challenges in efficiently storing and transferring a large number of articles between processing devices, particularly in optimizing storage capacity and ensuring rapid loading and unloading.
Innovation Solution
A temporary storage system featuring a grid-like travelling rail with longitudinal and lateral rails, local vehicles equipped with a hoist and advancement mechanisms, and an overhead transfer vehicle system that diverges and merges routes to facilitate efficient article transfer and overtaking, allowing for flexible routing and rapid transfer between buffers and load ports.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a conventional conveyor system is used to transport containers, then containers can be moved between locations, but containers must be completely discharged at destination before the same conveyor path can be used for return transport
Solution Approach 1:
The conveyor system is divided into multiple independent conveyor belts (first conveyor belt and second conveyor belt) that can operate simultaneously in opposite directions. This segmentation allows containers to be transported bidirectionally without waiting for complete discharge, as each conveyor belt can handle containers in its designated direction independently.
Solution Approach 2:
The system adds a temporal dimension to the conveyor operation by implementing overlapping transport cycles. While containers are being discharged at one end, the same conveyor path can simultaneously load new containers at the other end, creating continuous bidirectional flow rather than sequential unidirectional transport.
2Quantity of substance
If containers are stacked in storage areas, then space utilization is improved, but the stacking height is limited by container height and stability requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from two-dimensional horizontal stacking to three-dimensional vertical stacking by utilizing the vertical space above the conveyor belts. Containers are stacked multiple layers high in storage areas positioned over the conveyor paths, dramatically increasing storage capacity without expanding the horizontal footprint of the facility.
3Ease of operation
If containers are transported on conventional conveyors, then containers can be moved, but the conveyor path cannot be utilized for return transport until containers are fully discharged
Solution Approach 1:
The conveyor system is segmented into multiple independent conveyor belts operating in parallel. The first conveyor belt handles containers in one direction while the second conveyor belt handles containers in the opposite direction, allowing both paths to be utilized simultaneously without interference or idle time waiting for discharge completion.
Data Source
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AI summary
A temporary storage system having a large capacity and loading and unloading articles promptly is provided. The temporary storage system has a grid-like travelling rail and buffers over processing equipment except for an area over a load port, and local vehicles travel along the rail. The carriage of the local vehicles is provided with at least a longitudinal travelling unit, at least a lateral travelling unit, and at least an advancement and retraction mechanism selectively advancing one of the longitudinal travelling unit and the lateral travelling unit to a position supported by the travelling rail, and travels along the travelling rail longitudinally and laterally, and the transfer unit of the local vehicles is provided with a hoist and an arm moving the hoist horizontally. The local vehicles stop at a position corresponding to the load port, advances the arm towards the load port, and transfers an article between the load port.